How to Buy Art You Love
A Beginner's Guide
Finding that Perfect Work
According to a recent survey by University College London, looking at a beautiful work of art impacts the brain in the same way as falling in love with a person. But what if you’re considering several artworks and not sure how to make a final decision? Vinchy Art’s curators provide you with expert advice and helpful tools to find the work you love.
And if you’ve already made a decision and a purchase, jump to our post on enjoying your new artwork.
How to Get Started
Reading a Listing
Each artwork page on Vinchy Art contains a lot of helpful information. Here are the things you should be paying special attention to as you consider a work.
First, measure the dimensions of your space and compare them to the artwork's size. This will help you visualize how the piece will look in your home or office. You can check the specific dimensions of the artwork on the page, and using paper cutouts or cardboard can help you get a clearer idea of how it fits in your space.
Next, it's important to understand how the artwork is packaged. If the piece arrives in a tube, keep in mind that it will need framing upon arrival. If it comes in a box or crate, it’s likely ready to hang. We provide detailed information about the packaging on each product page to ensure you're prepared before making a purchase. If you choose to frame locally, please note that the price is usually higher than if you purchase directly from our website. If you would like a custom frame, feel free to contact our customer service at info@vinchyart.com.
Be sure to read the artwork's description and customer reviews, as this is a crucial step. Each piece includes detailed information about the artist, their background, inspiration, and other works. This will help you gain a deeper understanding of the artwork, seeing how other customers display their oil paintings in their homes may resonate with you and provide inspiration, increase your confidence in your purchasing decision.
Assessing the Quality of an Artwork
Each artwork page contains a lot of helpful information you can make use of during the consideration process. On each Vinchy Art artwork listing page, look under “Artist information” to determine if the artist you accept.
On the artist's profile, you can also identify the artist's achievement, view their creative philosophy and collection of work, as well as read their artist statement to better understand the story behind their work.
Deciding Where to Place the Work
Are you looking for original art to enhance your living or working spaces? While you might already have a clear idea of your interior style and budget, it’s crucial to consider the size and shape of the artwork as well. A piece that fits perfectly in terms of dimensions and orientation can become a focal point in a room, while one that’s too small or in the wrong format may end up feeling out of place. If you’re facing bare walls and aren’t sure where to start, here are five helpful tips to guide you in finding the perfect artwork for your space.
Size
Aim to fill about two-thirds to three-fourths of your available wall space. If you are looking to create a focal point above a piece of furniture—such as your couch, headboard, or dresser—follow the same proportions and find a work two-thirds to three-fourths smaller than your furniture. When in doubt, go big; You want your artwork to stand out and complement your space—empty wall space can overwhelm a smaller work. Here’s a collection of oversized works to get you thinking.
Orientation
When deciding on orientation, consider the shape of your available wall space. Go for a work in portrait orientation to create a sense of height and openness. Is there a yawning expanse of blank wall space behind your dining room table? Go horizontal, or landscape, to fill the visual field.
Placement
In gallery spaces, two-dimensional works are typically hung so that the center of the piece falls at eye level (56 to 60 inches from floor). This standard is a useful rule of thumb for hanging works on blank walls. When there’s a couch, headboard, fireplace mantel, or other piece of furniture involved, ensure that the work has some breathing room while keeping the look cohesive.
Salon Walls
Consider filling your wall space by grouping multiple works together. Works of equal size can be hung as a grid, but don’t be afraid to cluster works of different sizes into a salon wall, à la the salons of 19th century France, where works in art competitions were hung at many different heights and formations. In general, hang larger artworks on a salon wall two to three inches apart and small works one and a half to two inches apart. Need ideas?
Preview Art on Your Wall
If you still need assistance visualizing how an artwork will look in your space, feel free to reach out to our customer service at info@vinchyart.com or contact us. Please provide your space dimensions and photos, along with the artwork serial number and size you’re interested in. We will create a corresponding digital mock-up for you, allowing you to experience the art's effect more intuitively. You'll find the perfect piece in no time!
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